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Dam Removal Grant Program

(ss. 31.385(2)(ag) and (ar), Wis. Stats.; ch. NR 336, Wis. Adm. Code)

The 2009-2011 Biennial Budget bill made new funding available for the Dam Removal Grant Program (formerly known as the Small and Abandoned Dam Removal grant program). As a result, the Department completed emergency revisions to its administrative rules and application materials to be consistent with the new law. The emergency rules were passed by the Natural Resources Board on August 12, 2009 and became effective upon publication on August 28, 2009. The updated application materials are expected to be available around September 8.

Starting September 15, 2009 the department will begin accepting applications on a continual basis for the Dam Removal Grant program. Approximately $500,000 is available for grants under this program.

Grant, Eligibility, and Application Information:

Counties, cities, villages, towns, tribes, public inland lake protection and rehabilitation districts, and private dam owners can apply for grant funds to remove a dam they own. Any person can apply to receive funds to remove an abandoned dam if they have obtained legal access to the property on which the dam is located. Abandoned dams are those declared abandoned using the process under s. 31.187, Wis. Stats.

The DNR will fund 100% of eligible project costs up to a maximum grant award of $50,000. Eligible project costs include labor, materials, and equipment directly related to planning the actual removal, the dam removal itself, and the restoration of the impoundment. The project sponsor is responsible for ineligible costs and project costs in excess of the maximum grant award.

Starting September 15, 2009, applications will be accepted continually. To be considered for funding, applications must be complete and meet basic eligibility criteria. Funding decisions will be made on a first-come, first-served basis based on the application receipt date. Applications received between September 1 and September 15 will be treated as if they were received by the Department on September 15. Faxed applications will not be accepted.

Consult ch. NR 336, Wis. Adm. Code, for eligibility criteria.

Application Materials:

NR 336, Emergency Revisions:

A copy of the approved Board Order, which approved the emergency revisions necessary to implement the grant program, is attached. This has been incorporated with the unchanged text from the original rule to create an “unofficial” version of the emergency rule. This version may be easier to use in conjunction with preparation of your application.

 Natural Resources Board Order:

“Unofficial” Text of NR 336: [unofficial NR 336]

Other Dam Grants Available:

DNR also expects to accept applications for Municipal Dam Grant Program starting
October 15, 2009. Approximately $3.5 million will be available through this program to repair, reconstruct, or remove dams owned by municipalities, tribes, or public inland lake protection and rehabilitation districts. Information on this grant program is available at: http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/cfa/Grants/Dammaint.html

Note: An applicant may not receive a grant from both the Municipal Dam Grant Program and the Dam Removal Grant Program for removal of the same dam.

Additional Information:

Reimbursement Information:

Sign-up for Email Updates

  • Subscribe to receive Dam Safety Grants News. Periodically, the Department of Natural Resources will send email updates regarding grant application deadlines, public hearings and proposed changes to ch. NR 335 and 336, Wis. Adm. Code, and other dam grant related issues. You may subscribe to this mailing list by using the automated system at the link above.

Contacts:

FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE:

Bill Sturtevant, Dam Safety Engineer
Department of Natural Resources-WT/3
P.O. Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707-7921
Phone: 608-266-8033
E-mail: William.Sturtevant@wisconsin.gov

Meg Galloway, Dams & Flood Plain Section Chief
Department of Natural Resources-WT/3
P.O. Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707-7921
Phone: 608-266-7014
E-mail: Meg.Galloway@wisconsin.gov

FOR GRANT ADMINISTRATION ASSISTANCE:

Eileen Trainor, Dam Grant Manager
Department of Natural Resources, CF/2
101 S. Webster Street, P.O. Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707-7921
Phone: (608) 267-0848
Fax: (608) 267-0496
E-mail: Eileen.Trainor@Wisconsin.gov

Last Revised: Thursday October 01 2009